W-League: Get to know Jen Hoy

Number 9 for Newcastle Jets Women is American import, Jennifer Hoy.

The 25-year-old has already proved herself to be a very influential player in the squad and within the Westfield W-League, scoring four goals in nine matches.

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Hoy started playing the beautiful game at the age of four, representing her local club in her hometown of Sellersville, the Deep Run Strikers.

“I ended up playing with the same coach and many of the same players for years as we transitioned from little league to travel soccer,” Hoy said.

“My club team was called the Deep Run Strikers and once that team folded I joined FC Bucks Vipers.”

It was Hoy’s youth development with FC Bucks Vipers that would ensure her success in the years to come. Hoy explained: “The Vipers helped me get visibility from college coaches through competitive tournaments and we went on to win a National Championship the summer before I went off to College”.

In 2009, Hoy began College where she studied economics at Princeton University and played for the Princeton Tigers alongside her degree.

In 2012, Hoy completed her studies at Princeton University and graduated with a major in economics and a minor in Spanish. Soon after finishing her degree she was selected in the 2013 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars.

In her first season with the Red Stars Hoy received a national call up for the under 23s American squad, something which Hoy described was “a dream come true”.

Hoy’s hard work paid off in her senior season at Princeton as the team went undefeated in the Ivy League. Hoy consistently found the back of the net throughout the season.

“The first call up came after the success of that season and being drafted by the Red Stars,” said Hoy.

Last year Hoy became interested in the Westfield W-League after following the journey of Newcastle Jets stars Megan Oyster, and ex-player Caprice Dydasco

“I started following the team last season when I first heard that Megan and Caprice were playing for Newcastle,” she said.

Hoy began her W-League season this year in round 1 against Melbourne City. She has since been named in the starting eleven each game.

“Playing for ‘Deansy’ (Craig Deans) and the Jets was the best mutual fit, [and] I truly couldn’t have asked for a better place to end up and play my first season abroad,” she said.

And a mutual fit it was. As soon as Deans saw footage of Hoy, he knew she would be the player to add fire to his front line.

“Last year the team lacked that ruthlessness in goals and having someone who knows how to score,” Deans said.

“Once I saw footage of Jen, I was interested in her being a part of the squad. She has this knack of being in the right place at the right time and that’s not something you can teach as a coach.”

OFF THE FIELD
Since it is Hoy’s first time in Australia, she is excited to explore! Hoy is also a self-declared “total foodie and culture geek” and cannot “wait to check out local restaurants, travel when we play other teams and learn more about Australia’s history and people”. It’s safe to assume that when Hoy is away from the field she is submerging herself in the Australian lifestyle and culture.